Tovic Salvador

Lea Salonga performs at "Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration" in California in August 2026. Disney Princess/Facebook

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178877808830020260907 (1).jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Lea Salonga performs at &quot;Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration&quot; in California in August 2026. <em>Disney Princess/Facebook </em></span></span></span></div><p>Lea Salonga has added another feather to her well-decorated cap, this time as the recipient of the Icon Award at the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF).</p><p>The Broadway icon and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/8/19/lea-salonga-reunites-with-fellow-disney-princesses-in-us-concert-1734">Disney Legend</a>, often hailed as the Philippines&#39; pride, recently made history as the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/9/7/-long-before-hollywood-there-was-manila-lea-salonga-says-in-walk-of-fame-speech-1216">first Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame</a>. &nbsp;</p><p>But beyond all the accolades, Salonga finds the most meaning in becoming a &quot;small part of other people&#39;s stories&quot; through her works in theater and film.&nbsp;</p><p>Calling it an &quot;amazing privilege,&quot; she hopes to keep paving the way for other Filipino and Asian artists.</p><p>&quot;For a very long time, Asian artists grew up watching stories where people who look like us were absent, or appeared only occasionally. We had to see ourselves into worlds that did not always see us. And that is changing,&quot; she said during her acceptance speech at the MIFF gala in California last Sunday, September 6.</p><p>&quot;In the course of my career, I&#39;ve walked into theaters, concert halls, studios, and sets all around the world. Sometimes, I was the only Asian in the room. Once or twice, I was the first,&quot; Salonga went on. &quot;Being first can be wonderful, but the real goal is to make sure you&#39;re not the last.&quot;&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;If anything I&#39;ve done has helped make the road even slightly wider for someone coming behind me, that means more to me than any title ever could.&quot;</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc-WjZDKxj4/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A31308402.200000048%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1095" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>For Salonga, receiving the Icon award from the MIFF is a big deal, citing its efforts to put a spotlight on Filipino filmmakers, actors, writers, and storytellers.&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;You are helping to create a space where Filipino artists are not on the periphery of the conversation, but are at the center of it,&quot; she said.&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Thank you for calling me an icon, I promise to live up to that name,&quot; she ended.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc7hKtUG28J/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A31288903.700000048%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Aside from Salonga, the MIFF posthumously recognized &quot;Asia&#39;s Queen of Songs&quot; Pilita Corrales and Philippine cinema superstar Nora Aunor as Lifetime Achievement Awardees.&nbsp;</p><p>The Briones family, composed of Jon Jon, Megan, Isa, and Teo, received the Generations Award from their collective work on stage and screen.</p><p>The team behind the upcoming film &quot;Forgotten Island,&quot; which includes Salonga and mostly actors of Filipino descent, was honored with the Trailblazer Award.</p><p>&quot;Forgotten Island&quot; directors Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford received their own Trailblazer Award as well as actress Barbara Luna, best known for her role as Marlena Moreau in the Star Trek episode &quot;Mirror, Mirror.&quot;</p>

<p>Lea Salonga has added another feather to her well-decorated cap, this time as the recipient of the Icon Award at the Manila International Film Festival.</p>

Lea Salonga has added another feather to her well-decorated cap, this time as the recipient of the Icon Award at the Manila International Film Festival.

Now an MIFF icon, Lea Salonga hopes to continue paving the way for Filipino artists

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

Now an MIFF icon, Lea Salonga hopes to continue paving the way for Filipino artists

ABS-CBN News

Published September 07, 2026 06:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Lea Salonga

Manila International Film Festival

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.